Washington (CNN) –In an effort to "drill down" on the best way to accelerate job creation, the White House says President Obama will meet with business leaders at the Blair House Wednesday as part of a strategy session.

"The biggest challenge we face moving forward is not competition between Democrats and Republicans, but in making sure we are preparing the next generation to compete globally," said White House Deputy Communications Director Jen Psaki.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama spent some time Saturday morning on the phone reaffirming relationships with two key allies whose leaders popped up in unflattering U.S. State Department cables leaked by the WikiLeaks website.

In separate phone calls with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Obama discussed the "deplorable actions by WikiLeaks" and worked for reassurance the revelations wouldn't harm cooperation between nations, according to White House statements.FULL POST

Cancun, Mexico (CNN) – Delegates at the United Nations climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico, approved an agreement early Saturday, despite objections from Bolivia and with praise from the United States government.

On Saturday, the White House said President Barack Obama congratulated Mexican President Felipe Calderon on the conference's conclusion in a phone call.FULL STORY

Washington (CNN) – The top enlisted adviser for U.S. forces in Afghanistan said on Friday that he believes the troops are ready for a repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell,' and that those who oppose ending the policy should leave the military.

"If there are people who cannot deal with the change, then they're going to have to do what's best for their troops and best for the organization and best for the military service and exit the military service, so that we can move forward – if that's the way that we have to go," Command Sergeant Major Marvin Hill told 'Washington Watch' host and CNN contributor Roland Martin in an interview that will air Sunday on TV One Cable.FULL POST

Raleigh, North Carolina (CNN) - More than 1,200 mourners, including hundreds who loved and admired Elizabeth Edwards from a distance, packed a Raleigh church Saturday to pay respects to the activist and estranged wife of a failed aspirant to the presidency.

The mourners included Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who in 2004 picked Edwards' husband, John, to be his vice presidential running mate in an unsuccessful bid for the White House. John and Elizabeth Edwards separated earlier this year after the former North Carolina senator admitted to fathering a child out of wedlock while the couple was married.FULL STORY

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrived in Haiti on Saturday as part of a humanitarian delegation led by evangelist Franklin Graham and his relief organization Samaritan's Purse.FULL STORY

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) – Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is expected to arrive in Haiti on Saturday as part of a humanitarian delegation led by evangelist Franklin Graham and his relief organization Samaritan's Purse.

"I am pleased that Gov. Palin will accompany us on a brief trip to Haiti this weekend, and I appreciate her willingness to visit Haiti during such troubled times," Graham said in a statement on the organization's website.FULL STORY

(CNN) - While President Obama continues to face backlash from members of his own party for negotiating a deal that includes extending the Bush-era tax cuts for millionaires, Republicans say the compromise is "encouraging."

Incoming Rep. Kristi Noem, R-South Dakota, said in the weekly GOP address Saturday that "it's certainly encouraging to see that Obama has proposed a potential agreement to stop all the tax hikes scheduled to take effect on January 1st."

"Failing to stop all the tax hikes would mean taxes would go up for small businesses all across this country, destroying more jobs," Noem added.FULL POST